The six technology trends will be critical guideposts to drive enterprise disruption, agility and productivity.

“For global enterprises to lead in the new digital world, 2018 is decision time for transformation planning, preparedness and execution,” said Dan Hushon, senior vice president and chief technology officer, DXC Technology. “It’s a transition year for most companies as they commit to their digital strategy and begin to execute more broadly. The technology and platforms are much more robust, and DXC brings its global capabilities and experience with scale to help enterprises accelerate their digital transformation journeys.”

An aggressive move to common IT platforms will enable companies to respond to market changes faster, be more productive and make better-informed decisions. These common online platforms are rich in analytics, follow the information flow of the business and offer a dynamic environment to host products and services.

Moreover, they enable companies to shift their customization efforts from infrastructure to leading-edge applications, and to enhancing technology user experiences. Platforms will provide not only a foundation to improve processes, but also telemetry and insights. Smart adopters may see twofold to fivefold business acceleration.

2) The war for digital talent is vigorous and creative

The major digital re-platforming of the enterprise will signal a significant shift in demand for skills ranging from operating computers to information integration, analytics and information governance. These digital skills are incredibly scarce and demand is high.

To increase scale from a finite talent pool and maximize productivity, companies will need to leverage team-based distributed workplace platforms that use machine learning, intelligent automation, natural language processing and other technologies to drive productivity. In addition, techniques such as crowdsourcing, bring your own teams, incubators and strategic talent acquisition via “acquihires” are on the rise to access talent. Talent will decide who wins and loses in the next decade.

3) Quantified enterprise: Stop guessing and start measuring

Last year, DXC CTOs predicted that 2017 would bring the rise of the intelligent machine. Today, business decision makers say artificial intelligence (AI) is pivotal to their organization’s future success. In 2018, companies will harness the “data exhaust” from their digital systems to “quantify the business.” Forced to rethink big data, companies will use advanced machine learning techniques to make better decisions with less data.

4) Businesses get stronger through cyber resilience

Enterprises will focus on becoming even more resilient to threats by planning and practicing for cyber-attacks, as well as any potential business threat such as natural disasters or human error. The goals are continuous improvement and antifragility — getting stronger when attacks happen, not just surviving the attacks.

5) Companies grow through digital business extensions

The digital core will provide enterprises with an information-rich, scalable foundation. Digital business extensions will leverage that information and scale, extending digital capabilities into every facet of the organization, especially new markets and new businesses. Ensuring that all functional strategies have the mechanisms in place to consider digital extensions and the natural extended flow of information will be key to gain competitive advantage.

To make the right digital extensions, companies need a “strategic backflow” from digital capabilities to corporate strategy and, ideally, to all functional strategies (e.g., marketing, manufacturing, logistics).

6) AI gets smarter and more practical

AI will continue to differentiate the leading organizations. AI boosts continuous learning and improvement, supports a data-driven business and provides a platform for management of millions of computers. Examples of these advances today include IoT, employee information systems, clinical advisement systems, automated content generation and image recognition and capture. Ultimately, AI will continue to bring into reality what was previously considered “science fiction,” but AI will not be self-aware anytime soon.

“Transforming to a digital enterprise means bringing information into the fabric of every transaction with a client, partner, employee and process,” Hushon said. “Digital enterprises leverage information to inform decisions in ways never before possible, to out-plan and out-execute rivals. These 2018 technology trends underscore one critical concept: Companies will win through journey-focused innovation.”

About DXC TechnologyDXC Technology (DXC: NYSE) is the world’s leading independent, end-to-end IT services company, helping clients harness the power of innovation to thrive on change. Created by the merger of CSC and the Enterprise Services business of Hewlett Packard Enterprise, DXC Technology serves nearly 6,000 private and public sector clients across 70 countries. The company’s technology independence, global talent and extensive partner network combine to deliver powerful next-generation IT services and solutions. DXC Technology is recognized among the best corporate citizens globally. For more information, visit dxc.technology.